Basic Biographical Details Name: | (Sir) Basil Urwin Spence | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 13 August 1907 | Died: | 19 November 1976 | Bio Notes: | Basil Urwin Spence was born in Bombay on 13 August 1907, the son of Urwin Spence, an analytical chemist employed by the Indian civil service, and his wife Daisy Crisp. He was initially educated at the John Connon School in Bombay, but in 1919 at the age of twelve he moved to Scotland and attended George Watson's College as a day pupil. After leaving, he enrolled at Edinburgh College of Art in September 1925, initially to study painting and sculpture. He soon transferred to the School of Architecture, studying design practice and town planning under Frank Charles Mears and Harry Hubbard, and architectural history and theory under John Summerson who was only three years his senior. His other tutors at the College were Sydney J Miller, Leslie Grahame Thomson and George Washington Browne. Bursaries, prize money and income as a freelance perspectivist allowed him to travel extensively in England in 1927, France in 1928 and also in Germany. In 1929 he gained the College's certificate and exemption from the RIBA's intermediate examination. His brilliant draughtsmanship secured him a place in the office of Sir Edwin Lutyens, whom he assisted with the designs for the Viceroy's house, New Delhi, and while in London he took the opportunity to study at the Bartlett School of Architecture under Professor Albert Richardson.
On his return to Edinburgh Spence won the RIAS Rowand Anderson Medal during session 1930-31. In the latter year he gained his diploma from the College of Art and won the RIBA's Silver Medal as the best architectural student in the UK.
At the College Spence made friends with William Kininmonth, who also went to Lutyens' office. Kininmonth had previously been employed by Rowand Anderson & Balfour Paul, but when he returned from London Paul was unable to offer further work. Nevertheless, Kininmonth was given the use of a room in the office at 16 Rutland Square, and although it had only a single desk and a telephone this allowed him to take Spence into partnership in 1932. Their practice was immediately successful, thanks in part to the connections of Kininmonth's radiologist brother and Kininmonth's own modernist house at 46A Dick Place (1933) which proved an excellent advertisement. As well as design work the partners also specialised in presentations for other much larger practices.
Spence won the RIBA Arthur Cates Prize for town planning in 1932, tying with Robert Matthew, and then the Pugin Studentship in 1933. He was admitted ARIBA that year, his proposers being John Begg, Reginald Fairlie and William James Walker Todd. Both he and Kininmonth secured part-time teaching posts at Edinburgh College of Art. In 1934 Spence married Mary Joan Ferris of Tiverton, Devon.
In that year Paul offered Kininmonth a partnership, which he felt he had to decline unless Spence was taken into partnership as well. Paul accepted this proposal and the Kininmonth & Spence practice was merged with Paul's as Rowand Anderson & Paul & Partners. Although business had significantly recovered, to the extent that the practice secured commissions for three country houses, Spence and Kininmonth continued teaching at Edinburgh College of Art. This arrangement continued until Paul died in June 1938.
Independently of the practice, Spence won the competition for the Scottish School of Art & Industry at Kilsyth, and received three separate commissions in respect of the Empire Exhibition held at Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, in 1938. These included the highly acclaimed Scottish Pavilion which he designed in collaboration with the Exhibition's organiser, Thomas Tait.
Spence had joined the Territorial Army in 1934 and was commissioned in the Royal Artillery on the outbreak of the Second World War. He was seconded to the Camouflage Training & Development Unit at Farnham, and later served as an intelligence officer in Normandy. After demobilization and in the absence of substantial practice work he resumed teaching at Edinburgh College of Art, but in 1945 he was appointed chief architect of the Britain Can Make It exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum.
The partnership of Kininmonth & Spence having been dissolved, Basil Spence & Partners was established with Bruce Robertson in November 1946. Andrew Renton became a partner in 1949 when he took charge of the practice's first London office. Robertson left the practice in 1950 to practise independently, and John Hardie Glover and Peter Scott Ferguson were taken into partnership in 1951.
Spence's subsequent career was spectacular. He was elected FRIBA in 1947, his proposers being Thomas Tait, Joseph Emberton and F R S Yorke. He joined the Art Workers Guild in 1953. He leapt to prominence during the Festival of Britain in 1951 as chief architect for the Exhibition of Industrial Power in Glasgow and the designer of the Sea & Ships Pavilion, perhaps the best of all the displays on London's South Bank. In the same year he won the competition to design the new Coventry Cathedral, and he was subsequently responsible for ten parish churches. He built several schools both in Scotland and England. Although often criticised as a picturesque designer unconcerned by the dictates of structure, his nuclear physics building in Glasgow confirmed his mastery of complex technological briefs and led to some fifty university buildings in Scotland and England, including three major campuses at Nottingham, Southampton and Sussex. His remarkable versatility allowed him to turn his hand to major projects as diverse as the Hutchesontown C redevelopment in the Gorbals (1965) and Abbotsinch Airport (1966) in Glasgow, Hyde Park Cavalry Barracks in London (1970), and the Chancery of the British Embassy in Rome (1971).
By this date he was withdrawing from everyday involvement with the three architectural practices of which he was the head. Andrew Renton had left to practise independently in May 1961, with Spence continuing his own London ractice in the same office at Canonbury Place. In 1963 the London practice split: the Canonbury Place office was renamed Sir Basil Spence OM RA, with his son-in-law Anthony Blee as partner and his son John Urwin Spence as consultant; and a new office was opened at Fitzroy Square as Sir Basil Spence, Bonnington & Collins, John (Jack) Bonnington and Gordon Collins having been taken into partnership as based at Fitzroy Square. These changes having been made, at the beginning of 1964 the original practice at Moray Place, Edinburgh had become Sir Basil Spence, Glover & Ferguson. Jimmy Beveridge was taken into partnership in 1968; Andrew Merrylees in 1972; and John Legge in 1973.
Spence retired in 1972, although he continued to act as a consultant to the firm. In his last years he retreated to his holiday villas on Malta and Majorca, stung by a reaction against his work which was in sharp contrast to his previous popularity, but he nevertheless remained a prolific designer with a number of foreign commissions.
Basil Spence was blessed with great charm and remarkable powers of persuasion, and he did much - especially during his Presidency of the RIBA, 1958-60 - to engender public interest in modern architecture. He was the first Hoffman Wood Professor of Architecture at the University of Leeds, 1955-57, and Professor of Architecture at the Royal Academy, 1961-68. He was elected a Royal Designer for Industry (Exhibitions and Interiors) in 1960, and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art in 1962; he was also Treasurer of the Royal Academy, 1962-64, and a member of the Royal Fine Art Commission, 1956-70. Among many other distinctions from both home and abroad, he was appointed OBE in 1948, advanced to KBE (knighted) in 1960, and received the Order of Merit in 1962. He died at Yaxley Hall, near Eye, Suffolk, on 19 November 1976.
also TD, ARA and ARSA per Builder 1959 | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 82, Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1933 * | | |  | 16, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1933 | After 1939 | |  | 40, Moray Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1946 | 1976 | |  | 29, Buckingham Street, London, England | Private | 1948 or 1949 | 1952 | |  | 48, Queen Anne Street, London, England | Private | 1952 | 1961 | |  | 1, Canonbury Place, London, England | Business | 1956 | 1976 | |  | 1, Fitzroy Square, London, England | Business | 1961 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | Melville Crum Brown | c. 1950 | | Assistant | |  | Ramsay Manners Dewar | Before 1961 | After 1965 | | Working for one of Spence's London practices |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | | British Embassy | | | Rome | Italy | |  | | Thorn House | | | London | England | |  | 1932 | 6 Castlelaw Road | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Housing estate | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Housing estate for Berwickshire County Council | Burnmouth | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Lismohr | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Planning scheme for redevelopment of seafront, including fishermen's cottages | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1933 | 4 Easter Belmont Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1933 | 46A Dick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Council houses | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Design of original scheme |  | 1933 | Prestwick Municipal Buildings, pavilion and offices | Prestwick | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Competition design - placed second |  | Before 1933 | Glenwood | Glenlockhart | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1933 or 1937 | Southern Motors Garage | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | 15 Braid Hills Avenue | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | 22 Frogston Road West | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | 40-42 Dick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | 6 Comiston Rise | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Deaconess Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction, addition of a floor to the original block, and Lord Sands Memorial Wing |  | 1934 | House for St Katherine's | Liberton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Murrayfield Golf Clubhouse | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion of clubhouse into dwelling house |  | 1935 | 57 Oxgangs Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Broomhill House | | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Addition |  | 1935 | Building Exhibition, Waverley Market | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Dunedin House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Housing, 12-30 Victoria Street | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1935 | L'Aperitif Restaurant | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Liberton House | Liberton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Removal of later additions and restoration |  | 1935 | Ravleston Dykes Golf Clubhouse | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Converted to dwellinghouse, retaining main club room |  | 1935 | Timber Houses | Forth | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Unidentified Church | | | | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Upton, 141 Corsebar Road | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1935 | Colonsay House, estate workers' houses | Kiloran | Colonsay | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1936 | 220 Braid Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Broughton Place, including summer house, tennis court, walled garden, gatepiers, and stableblock | | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Principally the work of Spence |  | 1936 | Edinburgh Sports Club | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original design - amended design the following year. |  | 1936 | Fettes College | Comely Bank | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Interior renovation |  | 1936 | Fettes College, new hall and new chapel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed new hall |  | 1936 | Garth of Finlarig | Dulnain Bridge | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, ICI pavilion | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Mainly responsible for design |  | 1936 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, masterplan | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Worked with Thomas Smith Tait on masterplan |  | 1936 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Scottish Pavilion | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Maiinly responsible for design |  | 1936 | House for St Katherine's | Liberton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions |  | 1936 | Johannesburg Exhibition, Scottish Pavilion | | | Johannesburg | South Africa | Design principally by Spence |  | 1936 | Scottish Every Day Art Exhibition | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design principally by Spence |  | 1937 | Cleghorn Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Commission handled by Spence; Building completed to planned length with some detail alterations to existing building, modification of corner and third floor windows and omitting the high roof planned by Lochhead |  | 1937 | Corstorphine Parish Church | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Assisted Balfour Paul with restoration and alterations |  | 1937 | Edinburgh Dental Hospital and school | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed extension (executed 1952-54. The 1950s drawings differ from the pre-war appeal brochure) |  | 1937 | Gribloch House | Kippen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Worked in association with Perry Duncan |  | 1937 | Gribloch House, garage and staff accommodation | Kippen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Gribloch House, Lodge | Kippen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Kirkcaldy Town Hall | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Competition design - placed 4th - commended |  | 1937 | Quothquhan | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Scottish School of Art & Industry | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1937(?) | 129 Princes Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal staircase - date uncertain |  | 1938 | Country House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Duddingston Parish Church, hall | Duddingston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Falkirk Royal Infirmary Nurses' Home | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Won competition but not built |  | 1938 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, country cottage and flat for the Council for Art & Industry | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Hospital | Lochart | | | Scotland | |  | 1939 | West Court | Longniddry | | East Lothian | Scotland | Principal architect |  | 1940 | Fettes College, new hall and new chapel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed new hall and new chapel |  | 1945 | Bannerfield Estate | Selkirk | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | |  | After 1945 | St Giles Cathedral, 94th (City of Edinburgh) HAA Regiment 2nd World War memorial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1946 | Bell's Brae House | Dean Village | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration and alterations |  | 1947 | Enterprise Scotland 1947 Exhibition | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Layout architect |  | 1947 | Glasgow University, Natural Philosophy Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension to N, for research and housing the synchrotron. |  | 1948 | Housing estate, 14-20 Lower Burnmouth | Burnmouth | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | 1948 | Housing, 1-6 Harbour Court, Castle Gate | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | 1948 | Housing, 15A-15D Victoria Street and 8 Writer's Court | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | 1948 | Housing, 19A, 19B, 19C Victoria Street and 10, 12 Writer's Court | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | 1948 | Housing, Victoria Place | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | 1949 | Housing Scheme, Shepperton | Sunbury-on-Thames | | Middlesex | England | |  | c. 1949 | Rossie Priory | Inchture | | Perthshire | Scotland | Main part of house demolished and plinth courses converted to terrace |  | 1950s(?) | Daniel Stewart's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Ceiling decoration in library |  | 1950 | Crawford's Snack Bar interior, Queensferry Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1950 | John Smith (Wools) | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1950 | Premises for R S Robertson & Scott | | | | Scotland | |  | 1950 | SAI (Scottish Agricultural Industries) offices | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction? |  | 1950 | Scottish Agricultural Industries | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Amenities block and other work |  | 1950 | Secondary School, Duncanrig | Westwood, East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1951 | Coventry Cathedral | Coventry | | Warwickshire | England | Spence won the competition to design Coventry's new cathedral in 1951, grafting his design onto the remains of the bombed-out original. |  | 1951 | Festival of Britain Scotland, Exhibition of Industrial Power, Kelvin Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1951 | Festival of Britain, Sea and Ships Section | South Bank | | London | England | |  | 1951 | The Cottage | Longniddry | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1951 | The Hermitage | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | After 1951 | Private house(s) | Bedale | | Yorkshire | Scotland | Unclear whether Spence was involved or whether Ferguson was wholly responsible |  | After 1951 | Private house(s) | Ormiston | | East Lothian | Scotland | Unclear whether Spence was involved or whether Ferguson was wholly responsible |  | Before 1951 | Fishermen's Cottages, Dunbar | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1952 | Scottish School of Art & Industry | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Completion of project |  | 1952 | The Albyn | | | Edinburgh | | |  | 1952 | Two private houses | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1953 | Council houses | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Implemented reduced scheme |  | 1953 | Housing, Buncles Court and Lamer Street | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | 1953(?) | Plewlands House | South Queensferry | | West Lothian | Scotland | Restored and converted to houses |  | 1954 | Inch Hall Church | Inch | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1954 | St Andrew's Church | Clermiston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1955 | Scottish Agricultural Industries Fertilizer Works | Leith | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | In consultation with Kinnear & Gordon |  | 1956 | Flats, Great Michael Rise and Annfield | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Housing, Laverockbank Avenue and Laverockbank Crescent | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Tenement blocks, New Lane | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Tenements, 14-20 Great Michael Rise | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Tenements, 4-12 Great Michael Rise | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Tenements, New Lane | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Western General Hospital, Old Boiler House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1957 | Claremont Court housing | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1957 | George Watson's School, head masters house | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1957 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extension at E end of N range |  | 1958 | Glasgow University, Institute of Virology Department building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1958 | Hutchesontown / Gorbals Area C Housing Redevelopment | Hutchesontown/Gorbals | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1958 | Queens' College on the Backs | | | Cambridge, Cambridgeshire | England | |  | 1958 | Scottish Widows Head Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1958 | Thurso High School | Thurso | | Caithness | Scotland | |  | 1959 | Glasgow University, Natural Philosophy Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | W, for teaching and lecture theatre. |  | 1959 | Hampstead Civic Centre | Hampstead | | London | England | |  | 1959 | House at Oxlease Estate | Hatfield | | Hertfordshire | England | |  | 1959 | Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station | | | Snowdonia | Wales | consultant architect |  | 1959 | University of Edinburgh, George Square Redevelopment | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Consultant architect to University |  | 1959 | Western General Hospital, Operating Theatre Block | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | |  | Early 1950s | SS Ninian, Martin and John RC Church | Whithorn | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Prepared design - not executed. Commission went to Goodhart-Rendel. |  | Late 1950s(?) | Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, blood transfusion extension | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1960s | Durham University, St Aidan's College | Durham | | Co. Durham | England | |  | 1960s | Edinburgh University Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1960s | ICI Silicones Factory | Ardeer | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1960s | King's College, University of Durham, Physics Department | | | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | England | |  | 1960s | Newcastle Central Library and Laing Art Gallery | | | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | England | |  | 1960s | Procter & Gamble computer building | | | | | |  | 1960s | Secondary School | Dinnington | | Sheffield | England | |  | 1960s | University College Dublin library | | | Dublin | Eire | |  | 1960 | RHS Ingliston showground, Yorkshire Insurance Stand | Ingliston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1960 | Royal Showground Stoneleigh, Yorkshire Insurance Stand | Stoneleigh | | Warwickshire | England | |  | 1960 | Trinity College Glenalmond, Reid's House | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | After 1960 | King's College, University of Durham, Research Block | | | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | England | |  | Before 1960 | Associated Electrical Industries showroom | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | Before 1960 | House for A H Alexander | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Before 1960 | Recreation centre for Scottish Oils | Grangemouth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1960 | Scottish Amicable Life Assurance Society branch | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Before 1960 | University of Edinburgh, Department of Natural Philosophy | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension |  | Before 1960 | University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Animal Breeding Research Organisation Headquarters | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | William Norman Hunter was job architect |  | 1961 | 65-71 and 97-103 Canongate and 1-3 Brown's Close | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1961 | Glasgow (Abbotsinch) Airport | nr Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | £2m terminal building |  | 1961 | RIBA-Ideal Home House Competition | Harlow and Stockport | | | England | assessor |  | 1961 | Sussex University Halls of Residence | | | Sussex | England | |  | 1961 | Ten (10) 19-storey tower blocks, New Gorbals | New Gorbals | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1961 | Trinity College Glenalmond, Sanatorium | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Altered and extended |  | 1961 | University of Glasgow, Department of Genetics | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1962 | Trinity College Glenalmond, Chapel | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | New gallery and screen |  | 1964 | Crookfur Old People's Homes, Crookfur Road | Newton Mearns | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Mortonhall Crematorium | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1965 | British Pavilion, Expo '67 | | | Montreal | Canada | |  | 1966 | Glasgow University, Natural Philosophy Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Further additions |  | 1966 | University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building | The King's Buildings | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1966 | Western General Hospital, laundry and boiler house | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1968 | Bar and Buffet Extension at Glasgow (Abbotsinch) Airport | Abbotsinch | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1970s | Aston University Library | | | Birmingham | England | |  | 1970s | Edinburgh Centre for Rural Economy, Bush Estate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1970s | Harry Younger Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1970s | Western General Hospital, Sisters' Quarters | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | c. 1970 | Burrell Collection | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design |  | 1972 | Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance Head Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Before 1975 | Sydney Jones Library, University of Liverpool | | | Liverpool | England | |  | 1976 | National Bank of Scotland, Edinburgh West End | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New bank encapsulating old building. |  | 1981 | Aston University, management centre | | | Birmingham | England | |  | Before 1981 | Project for oil refinery | Invergordon | | Ross & Cromarty | Scotland | |  | Before 1981 | University of Newcastle, Departments of Mining and Geology | | | Newcastle-upon-Tyne | England | Perhaps not involved depending on date. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Beauty's Awakening | | Beauty's Awakening: The Centenary Exhibition of the Art Workers' Guild | | Brighton Museum September -November 1984, Royal Pavilion Brighton | |  | Campbell, Colin | 1977 | Sir Basil Spence: an architect's appreciation | Spring 1977 | Scottish Review | |  | Campbell, Louise | 1996 | Coventry Cathedral: Art and Architecture in Post-War Britain | | Clarendon Studies in the History of Art | |  | Gibberd, Frank | 1977 | Obituary: Sir Basil Spence: 1907-1976 | April 1977 | Architectural Review | |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | pXI A 1958 sketch perspective of Hutchesontown / Gorbals Area 'C' proposed blocks pXII Demolition of Hutchesontown 'C' September 1993 p1 Night view of the Glasgow Empire Exhibtion - from brochure. ICI Pavilion p5 Coventry Cathedral p10 Image of Thomas Whalen's 'Coal Cliff' relief for the 1951 Exhibition of Industrial Power p12 Site plan and perspective of Timber Housing, Lanarkshire p14 Harbour Court Housing, Dunbar pp38, 96, 98, 162 Mortonhall Crematorium p92-102 p141-2, p165-7 Edinburgh University Library p20, p39, p92-4, p98-102, p144-7 Hutchesontown C
|  | Glendinning, Miles and Muthesius, Stefan | 1994 | Tower Block: Modern Public Housing in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland | | Yale University Press: New Haven and London | Hutchesontown Area C: p170, p224, p327, p368 |  | Grove Dictionary of Art | | Grove Dictionary of Art | | | Entry by Louise Campbell |  | http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/122525/details/edinburgh+george+square+univ | | http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/122525/details/edinburgh+george+square+university+of+edinburgh+library/ | | | Edinburgh University Library Accessed 21.04.12 |  | http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/arthistory/research/basil_spence/ | | http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/arts/arthistory/research/basil_spence/ | | | |  | New DNB | | New Dictionary of National Biography | | | Entry by Brian Edwards |  | Placzek, Adolf K (ed) | 1982 | Macmillan Encyclopedia of Architects | | New York: The Free Press/Macmillan Publishing Company | Entry by Louise Campbell |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | Sheppard, Richard | 1977 | Obituary: Sir Basil Spence | January | RIBA Journal | |  | Spence, Basil | 1962 | Phoenix at Coventry | | Geoffrey Bles | |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p34 |  | Willis, Peter | 1977 | New architecture in Scotland | | | p8, p10 Fishermen's Houses p14, p38-41 Mortonhall Crematorium p46-7 Edinburgh University Library p60-1 Scottish Widows |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 17 September 1948 | | | p329 |  | Builder | 8 December 1950 | | | p617 |  | Builder | 11 May 1951 | | | p654 [images of Festival of Britain pavilion model] |  | Builder | 18 May 1951 | | | p691-3 |  | Builder | 24 August 1951 | | | p237-43 |  | Builder | 7 September 1951 | | | p336-7 [Recount of Spence's ideas on a 'new architecture'] |  | Builder | 19 September 1952 | | | p394-395 |  | Builder | 5 December 1952 | | | p852 (Spence's views on the Hydro-Electric Board's dams in north of Scotland, and his appreciation of civil engineering) |  | Builder | 1 May 1953 | | | p670-671, 677-679 |  | Builder | 28 August 1953 | | | p306 - fund-raising trip to Canada for Coventry Cathedral |  | Builder | 4 December 1953 | | | p869 - details ongoing success of Canadian fund-raising trip |  | Builder | 15 February 1954 | | | p250 - Spence's criticism of work submitted for RIBA prizes, 1954 |  | Builder | 10 April 1959 | | | 'Edinburgh Architectural Association: An Excellent Year Book' p679 |  | Builder | 29 September 1961 | | | 'Competitions Open' p571 - assessor for Ideal Home/RIBA Group Housing competition |  | Builder | 6 October 1961 | | | 'Competition News: Housing Group Design' p628 - mention of Ideal Home/RIBA competition |  | Builder | 8 December 1961 | | | 'Competition News: RIBA-Ideal Home House Competition' p1081 |  | Scotsman | 10 February 1999 | | | p20 - piece on RCAHMS' Spence Archive project, with criticism of Hutchesontown scheme |  | The Independent | 8 September 1993 | | | p13 - 'Great ocean liners that ran aground' (piece on Spence and Hutchesontown C by Brian Edwards) |  | The Times | 20 November 1976 | | | Obituary (see also other major newspapers of this date) |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no5162 (stored under F4253, combined box 3); F no 4253 (combined box 3) |  | Sent to DSA by email | Information from AHRC/RCAHMS Spence project per David W Walker and Clive Fenton | | Information from Clive B Fenton and David W Walker |
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